diamondot
@diamondot.bsky.social
horticulturist and garden goblin, lurking behind a tree. that one. right there
mostly here to reskeet some stuff.
mostly here to reskeet some stuff.
Reposted by diamondot
I found this discussion really interesting (and validating of some of the thoughts I’ve been having about certain aspects of politics for a while).
ICYMI: I sat down with political scientist @samuel-bagg.bsky.social to discuss the crisis in our information environment and its roots in social identity.
The cure for misinformation is not more information or smarter news consumers
Political scientist Samuel Bagg explains why social identity is at the root of the misinformation crisis -- which calls for something deeper than factchecking.
www.volts.wtf
January 6, 2026 at 3:45 AM
I found this discussion really interesting (and validating of some of the thoughts I’ve been having about certain aspects of politics for a while).
Reposted by diamondot
kind of darkly funny that "gender studies" is the stereotypical "useless degree" because gender studies will help you understand a large and important chunk of the current psychosis in american life
January 6, 2026 at 2:00 AM
kind of darkly funny that "gender studies" is the stereotypical "useless degree" because gender studies will help you understand a large and important chunk of the current psychosis in american life
Reposted by diamondot
Peter Gabriel's new track, in which he totally Peter Gabriels the hell out of it for seven and a half minutes
youtu.be/gb-sOCk6BP4
youtu.be/gb-sOCk6BP4
Peter Gabriel - Been Undone (Dark-Side Mix)
YouTube video by Peter Gabriel
youtu.be
January 6, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Peter Gabriel's new track, in which he totally Peter Gabriels the hell out of it for seven and a half minutes
youtu.be/gb-sOCk6BP4
youtu.be/gb-sOCk6BP4
Reposted by diamondot
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
I am not a Section 230 expert but being that Twitter is creating and publishing these photos I wonder if they actually have any civil legal protection? @kenwhite.bsky.social ? @akivamcohen.bsky.social ?
What X is allowing Grok to do is unlawful or regulatory-illegal in multiple jurisdictions, creates clear DSA violations, and continues despite regulator scrutiny. The images do not need to be pornographic, non-consensual sexualised or intimate depictions are enough.
January 5, 2026 at 11:10 PM
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
I was getting over a cold, and I twisted slightly to avoid coughing on my toddler, who I was holding. Threw out my back and missed work for a week
What's the most ridiculous way you ever hurt yourself? I got out of the tub, skidded in water and tripped over the toilet. Ankle sprain.
😅
😅
January 5, 2026 at 10:41 PM
I was getting over a cold, and I twisted slightly to avoid coughing on my toddler, who I was holding. Threw out my back and missed work for a week
Reposted by diamondot
this is so shitty and senseless and awful
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been dissolved, ending its 58 years as the primary funder for PBS, NPR and local TV and radio stations
Corporation For Public Broadcasting Is Dissolved After 58 Years Of Service
www.huffpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:12 PM
this is so shitty and senseless and awful
Reposted by diamondot
1/ Well, he did it. He actually did it.
RFK Jr. just issued a unilateral directive to overhaul the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule. This isn’t based on new data or new evidence, and he bypassed every scientific and clinical process we have, including not taking public comment.
RFK Jr. just issued a unilateral directive to overhaul the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule. This isn’t based on new data or new evidence, and he bypassed every scientific and clinical process we have, including not taking public comment.
January 5, 2026 at 8:52 PM
1/ Well, he did it. He actually did it.
RFK Jr. just issued a unilateral directive to overhaul the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule. This isn’t based on new data or new evidence, and he bypassed every scientific and clinical process we have, including not taking public comment.
RFK Jr. just issued a unilateral directive to overhaul the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule. This isn’t based on new data or new evidence, and he bypassed every scientific and clinical process we have, including not taking public comment.
Reposted by diamondot
I do not believe in the death penalty for humans.
I do support the death penalty for corporations.
When they murder people, let's dissolve them. Break them up, destroy their technology, nationalize their assets.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
I do support the death penalty for corporations.
When they murder people, let's dissolve them. Break them up, destroy their technology, nationalize their assets.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Murder-suicide case shows OpenAI selectively hides data after users die
OpenAI accused of hiding full ChatGPT logs in murder-suicide case.
arstechnica.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:22 AM
I do not believe in the death penalty for humans.
I do support the death penalty for corporations.
When they murder people, let's dissolve them. Break them up, destroy their technology, nationalize their assets.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
I do support the death penalty for corporations.
When they murder people, let's dissolve them. Break them up, destroy their technology, nationalize their assets.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Reposted by diamondot
I just called my rep and asked why she still had an active account on X/Twitter when X was allowing AI-generated CSAM on the platform.
Call your rep and tell them to get off X.
www.5calls.org
Call your rep and tell them to get off X.
www.5calls.org
This. I've banged this drum a lot, and I'll bang it again:
There's actually a serious problem in DC where people in power genuinely think that X is still the place to be, and are clinging onto that place without discernment for metrics, relevance, or their tacit contribution to Musk's abuse.
There's actually a serious problem in DC where people in power genuinely think that X is still the place to be, and are clinging onto that place without discernment for metrics, relevance, or their tacit contribution to Musk's abuse.
not sure the government grasps the people on X who seem to be fine wading through far-right propaganda, porn, & user-generated abuse imagery would notice or care if government accounts closed
January 5, 2026 at 4:55 PM
I just called my rep and asked why she still had an active account on X/Twitter when X was allowing AI-generated CSAM on the platform.
Call your rep and tell them to get off X.
www.5calls.org
Call your rep and tell them to get off X.
www.5calls.org
Reposted by diamondot
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaa! Earl! … We’ve got a poultrygeist!”
January 5, 2026 at 5:07 PM
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaa! Earl! … We’ve got a poultrygeist!”
Reposted by diamondot
This is it. "What do you think calling your electeds will do?"
Make them feel about me the same way everyone who's ever defaulted on student loans feels about their voicemail.
Make them feel about me the same way everyone who's ever defaulted on student loans feels about their voicemail.
Ask not what your representative will do for you (nothing), ask how you can make your representative so miserable they quit their job
My attitude on this is that I'm not calling them because I think I can change their minds.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
January 3, 2026 at 10:11 PM
This is it. "What do you think calling your electeds will do?"
Make them feel about me the same way everyone who's ever defaulted on student loans feels about their voicemail.
Make them feel about me the same way everyone who's ever defaulted on student loans feels about their voicemail.
Reposted by diamondot
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Right.
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
a lot of problems wouldn't exist if we had a congress with even an ounce of self interest
January 4, 2026 at 11:52 PM
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Reposted by diamondot
Another post from a Venezuelan friend:
January 4, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Another post from a Venezuelan friend:
Reposted by diamondot
Want to reduce risk for dementia? Get vaccinated! 🩺
I will explain how this works...
I will explain how this works...
Oh, just get vaccinated (part 5,000)
"Many shots seem to have “off-target” benefits, such as lowering the risk of dementia, studies have found." (gift article)
"Many shots seem to have “off-target” benefits, such as lowering the risk of dementia, studies have found." (gift article)
Vaccines Are Helping Older People More Than We Knew
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Want to reduce risk for dementia? Get vaccinated! 🩺
I will explain how this works...
I will explain how this works...
Reposted by diamondot
Don't forget folks: allowing yourself a vision of the future you'd want for our country and planet - not the one you'd settle for, not the one you fear, but the future of your dreams - isn't naive, it's a vital cognitive skill. That's how we articulate what we most value. What's worth fighting for.
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
January 4, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Don't forget folks: allowing yourself a vision of the future you'd want for our country and planet - not the one you'd settle for, not the one you fear, but the future of your dreams - isn't naive, it's a vital cognitive skill. That's how we articulate what we most value. What's worth fighting for.
Reposted by diamondot
You ever think about how the Roman Senate kept meeting centuries into the reigns of emperors. Hanging out, shooting the shit, giving speeches, and play-acting that their positions of privilege remained positions of power.
January 3, 2026 at 6:36 PM
You ever think about how the Roman Senate kept meeting centuries into the reigns of emperors. Hanging out, shooting the shit, giving speeches, and play-acting that their positions of privilege remained positions of power.
Reposted by diamondot
thinking about how, in the Russian history elective I took in HS, every time a tsar was facing domestic weakness the teacher would turn to the assembled students and ask "so what is it time for?" and we would chant "stunning territorial annexation!" and she would respond "well, DUH, girls"
January 3, 2026 at 3:22 PM
thinking about how, in the Russian history elective I took in HS, every time a tsar was facing domestic weakness the teacher would turn to the assembled students and ask "so what is it time for?" and we would chant "stunning territorial annexation!" and she would respond "well, DUH, girls"
Reposted by diamondot
Bless your fucking heart @schumer.senate.gov this isn't a distraction this is a violation of American and international law on a massive level and demands an immediate response, and that response is impeachment proceedings.
Schumer says "It makes you think that maybe to Trump, he wants to distract the American people, as he always does, as he always does, from the skyrocketing cost...from the Epstein files."
January 3, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Bless your fucking heart @schumer.senate.gov this isn't a distraction this is a violation of American and international law on a massive level and demands an immediate response, and that response is impeachment proceedings.
Reposted by diamondot
Yes, this is exactly the time to demand Democrats "do something."
They can denounce Trump's actions as unconstitutional. They can state that he must be impeached and removed. They can make clear that all involved will be held accountable.
These are the core duties of a role they all signed up for.
They can denounce Trump's actions as unconstitutional. They can state that he must be impeached and removed. They can make clear that all involved will be held accountable.
These are the core duties of a role they all signed up for.
January 3, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Yes, this is exactly the time to demand Democrats "do something."
They can denounce Trump's actions as unconstitutional. They can state that he must be impeached and removed. They can make clear that all involved will be held accountable.
These are the core duties of a role they all signed up for.
They can denounce Trump's actions as unconstitutional. They can state that he must be impeached and removed. They can make clear that all involved will be held accountable.
These are the core duties of a role they all signed up for.
Reposted by diamondot
I don’t love you and I’m not holding your hand: call your Senator and tell them that the must shut down the government on January 30th until this ends, a thing that Democrats have the hard power to do at this very moment.
I love you all and am holding your hand as I say this:
Dems wield zero hard power levers
Dems wield zero hard power levers
it's kind of crazy that there's even any question that democrats are going to do anything about this
January 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I don’t love you and I’m not holding your hand: call your Senator and tell them that the must shut down the government on January 30th until this ends, a thing that Democrats have the hard power to do at this very moment.
Reposted by diamondot
Call your reps + please read the thread. Do it now, please.
Script.
Script.
![A Canva-mocked up call script re: calling electeds Trump Administration's actions in Venezuela
YOU: Hi, my name is [NAME]. I’m calling from [ZIP CODE].
YOU: I’m calling [MOC] to demand they condemn the U.S.’s actions in Venezuela tonight. The Trump administration has carried out an illegal attack and capture of Maduro that is a clear violation of international sovereignty and will impact relationships will alienate international allies, and [ELECTED] must speak out about this.
YOU: I am also calling on [MOC] to:
1. Speak plainly about this to their constituents. They can acknowledge the Maduro regime’s abuses AND recognize this as an unlawful extraterritorial detention,
2. Demand a legal written justification from the Administration,
3. Hold IMMEDIATE House/Senate Foreign Affairs hearings on the the decision-making, legality, and diplomatic risks of the Maduro operation,
4. Demand an immediate classified briefing for the Gang of Eight.
YOU: What happened tonight will have ramifications across the world in the days, weeks and months to come, and we need answers and action taken.
YOU: [OPTIONAL COMMENTS - DEMAND A RESPONSE]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vdabazxnghujbebpi2ektqgi/bafkreiekz6akttflsgwcc74eyuq6m6e2lrbgxzouhdmvi5lds4qm6x4fou@jpeg)
January 3, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Call your reps + please read the thread. Do it now, please.
Script.
Script.
Reposted by diamondot
it is incredible that the entire high level legal apparatus of the United States is "anything that helps people is impossible, anything that kills people is permitted"
January 3, 2026 at 2:24 PM
it is incredible that the entire high level legal apparatus of the United States is "anything that helps people is impossible, anything that kills people is permitted"
Reposted by diamondot
RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to terminate their flu vaccination ad campaign immediately after taking office.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Robert F Kennedy cancels flu vaccination ad campaign and key vaccine policy meeting
The new US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to halt its publicity campaign encouraging uptake of this year’s seasonal flu vaccine...
www.bmj.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM
RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to terminate their flu vaccination ad campaign immediately after taking office.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Reposted by diamondot
fuck it HURTS that I understand this
Scott Adams is the Dave Sim of Jim Davises.
January 2, 2026 at 12:11 AM
fuck it HURTS that I understand this
Reposted by diamondot
I think one of the reasons mainstream democrats didn’t like Mamdani is that he is a guy who does things, and they don’t want that example out there.
Mayor Mamdani has nullified every executive order issued by Eric Adams after he struck his corrupt bargain with Trump to secure dismissal of the indictment against him.
January 2, 2026 at 12:09 AM
I think one of the reasons mainstream democrats didn’t like Mamdani is that he is a guy who does things, and they don’t want that example out there.